Review: ‘The Big Heart of Girls’

What exactly does "The Big Heart of Girls" consist of for Pupi Avati? Their ability to forgive men for cheating on them, of course.

What exactly does “The Big Heart of Girls” consist of for Pupi Avati? Their ability to forgive men for cheating on them, of course. On their wedding night. Yes, such big-hearted girls can still be found in Avati’s pics, in which outdated notions of women’s devotion to their menfolk are here expressed via yet another nostalgia-heavy tale of the 1930s, featuring a lummox whose sweet breath is catnip to the ladies. Avati’s aging fanbase will undoubtedly plunk down their coins, and TV rotation is assured, but this won’t travel beyond national borders.

Alessandro Haber’s wonder-filled voiceover recalls his childhood when brother Carlino (Cesare Cremonini) is promised a motorcycle if he’ll wed one of the village landowner’s two ugly daughters. Instead he falls for their attractive stepsister, Francesca (Micaela Ramazzotti, uninspired), who’s bowled over by the scent of hawthorn flowers issuing from his mouth (huh?). Overcoming strenuous family objections, they get married, but promiscuous Carlino is led astray by an old flame (Isabelle Adriani). Avati shovels on cutesy details instead of developing character, and the women, apart from Francesca, are either dried-out spinsters or whores. Post-production dubbing occasionally grates.

The Big Heart of Girls

Italy

Production

A Medusa Film release of a Duea Film production in association with Medusa Film, Sky Cinema. (International sales: Filmexport, Rome.) Produced by Antonio Avati. Directed, written by Pupi Avati.